Cotton-chopper.



v PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

w; A. STOCKTON.

, COTTON CHOPPER. nrucuxon FILED MAY 23. 1901'.

N, N WITNESSES Z Y INVENTOR- I I in? p A TTOR/VE Y5 WILLIAM ALONZOSTOCKTON, OF EASTMAN, MISSISSIPPI.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

Speeifieationof Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed May 23,1907. Serial No. 375,833.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ALONZO STOCKTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Eastman, in the county of Itawamba and State ofMississippi, have invented a new and useful Cotton-Chopper, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has relation to cotton choppers and it consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of its parts as hereinafter shown anddescribed.

The object of the invention is to provide an implement as indicatedwhich is adapted to be drawn along a row of standing plants and which isprovided with a series of rotating hoes which are adapted to cut out theplants at intervals and leave other plants standing in the row betweensuch intervals.

The implement consists primarily of a frame which is mounted uponsupporting wheels and which is provided at its forward end with apivoted axle. A frame supporting the cotton chopping mechanism islocated under the first said frame and the cotton chopping mechanism orhoes are held toward the ground under spring tension, the said springbeing interposed between the two said frames. A lever mechanism ismounted upon the first said frame and is connected with the second saidframe and may be manipulated in order to raise the last said frameagainst the tension of the said interposed springs. Means is providedfor transmitting movement from one of the supporting wheels to thechopping mechanism. I

In the accompanying drawing:Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chopperwith parts in section, and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same withparts broken away.

The chopper consists of the superimposed frame 1 which is mounted uponthe forward pivoted axle 2 and the rear axle 3 which is fixed withrelation to the frame. The axle 2 is pivoted to swing horizontally in amanner similar to the forward axle of an ordinary wagon running gear.The ground wheels 4 are journaled upon the said axle. The reach bar 5connects the said axles together and is provided at an intermediatepoint with the upwardly disposed arch portion 6. The lever 7 isfulcrumed upon the superimposed frame 1. The depending frame 8 islocated under the superimposed frame 1 and may move vertically withrelation to the same along the bolts 9 and 10 which depend from theframe 1, the latter of which is the king bolt upon which the axle 2 ispivoted. The springs 11 are interposed between the rear axle 3 and therear portion of the frame 8 and the springs 12 are interposed betweenthe and 24.

pivoted axle 2 and the forward portion of the frame 8. The said springsare under tension in order to hold the ground engaging members carriedby the frame 8 in contact with the ground. The springs 12 are providedwith arcuate portions 13 which lie in arcs struck from the king bolt 10as a center and the pins 14 are attached to the axle 2 and operatelaterally against the arcuate portions 13, whereby the pivoted axle 2may turn laterally and still have the springs interposed between thesame and the frame 8. The cable or cables 15 are connected at theirlower ends with the frame 8 and at their upper ends with the lever 7.Thus, when the said lever is manipulated the frame 8 may be lowered orraised against the tension of the springs 11 and 12. The stub shaft 16is journaled for rotation upon the frame 8 and is disposed transverselyof the same. Said shaft is provided at its outer end with a sprocketwheel 17 and at its inner end with a beveled pinion 18. The shaft 19extends longitudinally of the frame 8 and is journaled at its ends inbearings 20 provided upon the cross bars 21. The beveled pinion 22 ismounted upon the shaft 19 and meshes with the pinion 18. The hoes 23 areattached to the shaft 19 and operate under and within the arch portion 6of the reach bar 5. One ofthe ground wheels 4 is provided with asprocket Wheel 24 and the sprocket chain 25 passes around the sprocketwheel 17 The forward end of the frame 8 is pointed and is provided withthe tines 26 which are adapted to throw stalks and trash to the sides ofthe implement away from the plants as the implement is drawn along thesame. The cross bars 21 are provided with the plows 27 each of which isprovided with a spring actuated trip 28 by means of which the plow pointmay swing toward the rear in case it comes in contact with anobstruction while the said spring normally holds the point in properposition toward the soil. As the said plows are mounted upon both of thecross bars 21 the forward plows remove the. earth from the sides of therow of plants prior to the operation of the hoes 23 upon the same andthe rear plows list the earth back toward the row after th e superfluousplants have been removed therefrom.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that a cotton chopper isprovided having a frame provided with earth engaging elements which areheld in contact with the soil under spring tension and which may beeasily and readily raised out of engagement with the ground when theimplement is drawn along the road or making a turn.

Having described my invention What I claim as new I and groundengagingelements carried by the depending 10 l lesire to secure bLetters-Patent is' frame' C y In testimony that I claim the foregoing asmy own, I A cotton chopper comprising a frame having, a pivoted havehereto affixed my signature in the presence of two axle and a fixedaxle, wheels journaled upon the axles, a witnesses. frame depending fromthe first said frame, springs interposed between the first said frameand the depending frame, WILLIAM ALONZO SfTOCKTON' those springs thatare located under the pivoted axle hav- Witnesses: ing arcuate portions,pins mounted upon the pivoted axle M. O. HALL,

and bearing against the arcuate portions of the springs DEAN HALL.

